Abstract
Minke whales comprise some of the most widely distributed species of baleen whales, some of which are still regularly targeted by commercial whaling. Here, we review the conservation status of common (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and Antarctic (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) minke whale populations, against the backdrop of ongoing whaling operations and other anthropogenic threats, including climate change, entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes and noise pollution. Although some coastal minke whale populations have been studied in detail, others, which inhabit remote and ecologically sensitive locations, such as the Antarctic ice shelf, are among the least understood populations of marine mammals. The unresolved taxonomy of dwarf minke whales further highlights some of the existing knowledge gaps concerning these species. Due to their relatively small size and elusive behaviours, large uncertainties exist for almost all minke whale populations with respect to behaviour, migratory routes and winter distributions, hindering effective conservation and management. However, recent advances in research technology, such as passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), multisensor recording tags, and machine learning assisted photo-identification, are increasingly being applied to study minke whales and their habitat, and are starting to open new windows into their life history and ecology. In future research, these non- and less-invasive methods should be integrated in larger-scale comparative studies aiming to better understand minke whale behaviour, ecological interactions and their varying habitats to drive and support effective species conservation.
Highlights
Many baleen whale populations have been reduced extensively by whaling, which makes them more vulnerable to negative impacts from changes in their habitats (Baker and Clapham, 2004)
We aim to summarize current knowledge on the threats global minke whale populations are facing, review current research and monitoring approaches and discuss data gaps and future research and conservation priorities
With continued sea ice decline, the potential for overlap, and competition for prey, increases as does the likelihood that krill abundance will decrease due to poor recruitment, for example (Atkinson et al, 2004). This could lead to both a limited amount of preferred sea ice habitat and limited prey availability, increasing the potential for competition with other krill predators (including humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophaga), Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), as well as a variety of penguin, seabird, and fish species). This could mean that Antarctic minke whales will be displaced to regions that are currently covered by more sea ice and those that remain may be at higher predation risk from killer whales in open water (Higdon and Ferguson, 2009) and be in competition with other predators for a limited prey resource
Summary
Many baleen whale populations have been reduced extensively by whaling, which makes them more vulnerable to negative impacts from changes in their habitats (Baker and Clapham, 2004). In the case of minke whales, several populations are still being impacted by ongoing commercial whaling. These hunts are carried out against the backdrop of global climate change and other anthropogenic impacts, such as interactions with fisheries, pollution, as well as ship strike. Given this complex array of often interacting threats and considering their comparatively long life spans, minke whales, like other baleen whales, face significant challenges that may lead to severe impacts on populations
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